Carrier and carrying case for rolls of adhesive tape



May 13, 1969 F. c. STEINBOCK CARRIER AND CARRYING CASE FOR ROLLS OF ADHESIVE TAPE Sheet Filed June 14, 1967 gdi we nlorr Qreci afyzemfm 3/ 3 HHHEIIIIM4V Wm l r 3 Hood 6 m. Q Q, t M Ilkh l J f ll 1,; 1 .2 WV] b W May 13, 1969 3,443,736

CARRIER AND CARRYING CASE FOR ROLLS or ADHESIVE TAPE F- C. STEINBOK Sheet Z 01'2 Filed June 14. 1967 area; 5.5/1; Mai

United States Patent 3,443,736 CARRIER AND CARRYING CASE FOR ROLLS OF ADHESIVE TAPE Fred C. Steinhock, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Kendall Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 14, 1967, Ser. No. 645,953 Int. Cl. B65d /48, 81/00, 85/00, 85/62, 5/46 U.S. Cl. 229-15 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination container and carrier for shipment and storage of spindle-supported spools of adhesive tape which is convertible to a hand-carrying case and from which the carrier with the tapes may be removed to provide a carryable dispensing rack of rolls of the tape.

This invention relates to a new and improved carrier for rolls of adhesive tape and to the combination of the carrier and a container therefor to provide a shipping and carrying case for the tape.

While the present invention has utility as a shipping and storage package for rolls of adhesive tapes in general, the full utility and advantages of the invention are realized best in the case of athletic strapping tapes. The term athletic strapping tapes is used here in the sense commonly used in training or dressing rooms of athletic teams by trainers of athletes and the athletes themselves. The tapes are so-called whether they are used for the purpose of preventing an injury (e.g., as in serving as a strapping reinforcement of an ankle or other body joint) or for the purpose of protecting a bruised portion of the body.

Considerable amounts of tape are employed in preparing an athlete for a body-contact contest, such as football, soccer and hockey. A well managed football team will require all team members to at least have their ankles taped, irrespective of the athletes opinion of the need for it. Proper taping to provide a reinforcing support requires a great amount of skill by the trainer. It is not ordinarily left to the athlete to do himself.

This much of the background on the use of athletic strapping tapes is deemed desirable in order to appreciate the advantages of the present invention. The taping job of the trainer prior to the game is a most important one. The job is carried out under limited time conditions prior to game time, in usually crowded locker rooms and at a time when the athlete is preoccupied with other aspects of the game. The trainer may be required to move from person to person with his supplies. One athelete may require several rolls of tape. Unused portions of rolls of tape will not be used in strapping an ankle. A plentiful supply of full rolls of tape conveniently at hand at all times is practically a necessity.

The trainers activities do not end at game time, of course. He must be available on the scene with his supplies to treat emergencies on the field of action and on the bench. Working under these conditions and the conditions of the training room the trainer needs a supply of tapes in compact, readily available form which he can transport with him.

A principal object of the subject invention is to provide novel means for carrying and providing for the ready dispensing of a plurality of rolls of adhesive tape.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel combination carrier and package for multiple rolls or spools of adhesive tape.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a novel handy carrier for rolls of adhesive tape made from a die cut corrugated cardboard folded in a manner to carry a plurality of vertically disposed, roll carrying spindles in substantially straight rows on oppositely extending shelves on both sides of a central dividing member.

Still another important object of this invention is to supply a novel spool carrying portable container in the nature of a valise to facilitate the carrying of a supply of spools to a use site and thereupon freely and easily dispense the spools as desired.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to provide a novel tiered support for a plurality of tape dispensing spools and including an outer package container with provision for hand engagement of the tiered support through the outer package container.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier for a plurality of spools made of a die-cut sheet of corrugated cardboard formed symmetrically about a central fold line and equipped with a plurality of successive rectangular sections joined by fold lines whereupon the folded die-cut sheet comprises a double thickness central portion and outwardly projecting box-like shelves to carry spools.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a carrier of spools as recited in the previous object and having novel means integrally formed with the die-cut sheet to brace the box-like shelves Still another important object of this invention is to equip a spool carrier as recited in the preceding two objects with novel means for locking the box-like shelves in folded condition relative to the double thickness central portion.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combination package and spool dispensing carrier of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view detail of the die-cut corrugated cardboard spool carrier of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the device of FIGURE 3 folded to form a spool carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the spool carrier of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG- URES 4 and 5 and loaded with vertical spindles and the spools to be carried and dispensed.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view detail of the spindle and spool separator device as used with this combination package and dispenser.

AS SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an outer corrugated cardboard package which holds and covers the tape carrier and dispenser of this invention. The outer rectangularly shaped package is provided with a bottom 11, generally elongated spaced apart parallel sides 12 and 13, and end members 14 and 15 which join the sides and the bottom. A top 16 for the outer package is composed of side flap members 17 and 18 which adjoin each other at their inner edges along a generally longitudinal center line on the top of the package. At the central portion of the top 16 the members 17 and 18 are inwardly slit defining adjoining hinged flap members 19 and 20 which when swung downwardly about their inner edges form a hand opening to permit a user to place his hand through the top 16 and engage the spool carrier and dispenser to be subsequently described.

The spool carrier, defined generally by the numeral 21, is disposed within the outer package 10 or it may be used separately as desired. The detailed construction of the carrier is shown in FIGURE 3 prior to its being folded for subsequent carrier use. The carrier constitutes a die-cut cardboard or paperboard sheet which is symmetrically formed about a central fold line 22. On each side of the central fold line 22 there is provided a first adjacent rectangularly shaped sections 23 and 24, respectively. Closely adjacent the fold line 22 and centrally located, there is provided an elongated hand engaging opening 25 and 26 in each of the sections 23 and 24. When these sections are folded back against and upon each other for subsequent use the elongated openings 25 and 26 are in back-to-back relationship form ing a hand grip for the user to grip with his hand. The aligned hand openings are disposed just a short distance beneath the top central fold line 22 and adjacent the centrally cut flaps 19 and 20 of the outer package. This relationship of parts permits the user to conveniently pass his hand through the outer package and engage the aligned openings and 26 to thereby carry both the carrier 21 and its outer package 10 as a unit. Obviously if the carrier were to be used separately from the outer package, the aligned openings 25 and 26 would still function as a convenient handle for the carrier.

The rectangular sections 23 and 24 of the carrier sheet are defined on their outer edges by fold or score lines 27 and 28, respectively. Further, the sections 23 and 214 are defined on their sides by fold or score lines 29, 30, 31 and 32, respectively. The sections 23 and 24 are rectangular in shape and when folded back upon themselves are identical in shape and size and constitute the inner central, double thickness wall of a two sided spool carrier.

There is provided on the outer sides of each of the first rectangular sections 23 and 24 side extension members 33, 34, and 36, respectively. The lateral edges 37, 38, 39 and of the side extensions 33, 3-4, 35 and 36, respectively, taper from a narrow portion adjacent the center fold line 22 to a wide portion at their other ends. When the die-cut sheet for the carrier 21 is bent or folded about its center line 22 the side extensions 33, 34, 35 and 36 are bent or folded upwardly about their respective fold lines 29, 30, 31 and 32 at substantially right angles to the sections 23 and 24 so that as shown in FIGURE 6 these side extentions form end walls which taper from wide bottoms upwardly to a narrow top to thereby confine the spools within the spaced ends of the carrier.

Each of the side extension members is provided with a fold line at its end adjacent its widest portion. The side extension 33 has a fold line 41; the side extension 34 has fold line 42; the side extension 35 has a fold line 43; and the side extension 36 has a fold line 44. The fold lines 41 and 43 constitute axial extensions of the fold line 27 which defines the outer extremity of the rectangular section 23. Similarly the fold lines 42 and 44 constitute axial extension of the fold line 28 which as previously described defines the outer extremity of the carrier section 24.

Beyond the first rectangular sections 23 and 24 and their respective fold lines 27 and 28 there are provided second adjoining rectangular sections 45 and 46, respectively. These next outer sections 45 and 46 are defined at their outer extremities by fold or score lines 47 and 48, respectively. The lateral sides of the sections 45 and 46 are cut as shown at 49, 50, 51 and 52, respectively. Lying adjacent these sides are tails or tongues 53, 54, 55 and 56, respectively, of the side extensions 33, 34, 35 and 36.

Outwardly beyond each second section 45 and 46 there is provided a relatively narrower rectangularly shaped third section 57 and 58, respectively. The outer ends of these narrow sections are defined by fold or score lines 59 and 60. The lateral side edges of the narrow sec tions 57 and 58 are defined by the cuts or slits 49 and 51 which respectively extend over the combined extent of the sections 45 and 57 and the cuts or slits 50 and 52 which respectively extend over the combined extent of the sections 46 and 58.

The carrier blank is provided with fourth symmertical rectangular sections 61 and 62 which are comparable in extent to the previously defined second sections 45 and 46 which are substantially wider than the narrow third sections 57 and 58. These fourth secions 61 and 62 are defined at their outer edges by fold or score lines 63 and 64, respectively. The section 61 and 62 are provided with side extensions 65, '66, 67 and 68, respectively, which are comparable in extent to the width of the narrow sections 57 and 58. These side extension are provided at their attachments with the sections 61 and 62 by fold or score lines 69, 70, 71 and 72, respectively. The side extensions 65, 66 67 and 68 therefore are hinged to the sections 61 and 62 and are foldable about their respective fold lines.

The symmetrical die cut carrier is completed in its outward extent by rectangularly shaped fifth sections 73 and 74 which are disposed at each end of the die-cut cardboard beyond the fold lines 63 and 64, respectively. These end sections 73 and 74 are comparable in extent to the relatively short third sections 57 and 58 and also the side extensions 65, 66, 67 and 68. The die-cut carrier sheet includes cuts or slits 75, 76, 77 and 78 on the inner sides of the respective side extensions 65, 66, 67 and 68 and these slits are disposed in axial alignment with the fold lines 59 and 60 respectively.

The die-cut cardboard sheet 21 is provided with elongated slit-like notches 79 and 80 located adjacent the outer edges of the first rectangularly shaped symmetrical sections 23 and 24, respectively. The notches are disposed a distance inwardly of the fold lines 27 and 28 an amount approximately equal to the width of the sections 57, 58, 73 and 74. Each of the rectangular end sections 73 and 74 is provided with notched tongue members 81 and 82, respectively, so that the attached ends of the notched tongues constitute a portion of the fold lines 63 and 64, respectively.

In assembling the die-cut carrier cardboard sheet into the shape of a spool carrier as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 6, the die-cut sheet 21 is initially folded backwardly about its central fold line 22 so that the first rectangular sections 23 and 24 lie back-to-back. The side extensions 33, 34, 35 and 36 are bent upwardly about their respective fold lines 29, 30, 31 and 32 so that they are disposed at substantially right angles to the rectangular sections 23 and 24. The tail members 53, 54, 55 and 56 of these side extensions are then bent or folded upwardly about their respective fold lines 41, 42, 43 and 44 so that they are disposed at substantially right angles to the side extensions. Now, the next step is to bend the second outer rectangular sections 45 and 46 upwardly about their respective fold lines 27 and 28 until they are disposed at substantially right angles to the sections 23 and 24 and lie beneath the now inwardly projecting tail members 53, 54, 55 and 56. The next outer third rectangular sections 57 and 58 are folded upwardly about their fold lines 47 and 48 so that they are disposed at substantially right angles to the second sections 45 and 46. The next step in the folding and assembling operation is to bend the fifth or outermost rectangular sections 73 and 74 upwardly about their fold lines 63 and 64 so that they lie at substantially right angles to the fourth rectangular sections 61 and 62, respectively. The outer extensions 65, 66, 67 and 68 of the fourth sections 61 and 62 are similarly bent upwardly about their fold lines 69, 70, 71 and 72, respectively, so that they also are disposed at substantially right angles to the fourth sections 61 and 62. In the final fold operation the fourth section 61 and 62 are folded upwardly about their fold lines 59 and 60 and thence inwardly toward the central sections 23 and 24, whereupon the notched tongues 81 and 82 respectively engage the elongated notches 79 and 80 in the double thickness central member 23-24, thereby holding the assembly in the form of a spool or like carrier with outwardly projecting boxlike shelves on both sides of the central members 23-24. This construction is clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 wherein the shelves are substantially rectangular in shape and constitute the means for carrying the spools of adhesive tape, or other materials as desired, in a manner to be subsequently described.

Each of the side, box-like shelves is equipped with a plurality of generally aligned circular openings or holes in their top surfaces 61 and 62. The section 61 has openings 83, 84, 85 and 86 and the section 62 has comparably positioned, spaced apart holes 87, 88, 89 and 90. The shelves, comprising the rectangular box-like structures are thus capable of receiving and holding elements within the holes and resting on the continuous bottoms 45 and 46, respectively. The elements which each lateral shelf carries are cardboard or paperboard tubes or spindles made of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the holes in each of the shelves. Spindles 91, 92, 93 and 94 pass through the holes 83, 84, 85 and 86, respectively, in the top surface 61 of the shelf and thereupon rest on the spaced apart bottom 45 of the shelf. These tubes or spindles are held in a generally vertical position by reason of their peripheral contact within the holes in the top member 61 of the shelf and the engagement of the tubes on the firm bottom 45 of the shelf. Similarly, the shelf on the other side of the carrier is provided with tubes or spindles 95, 96, 97 and 98 which respectively engage holes 87, 88, 89 and 90 in the top surface section 62. These tubes engage the spaced apart solid bottom 46 of the shelf. It is on these spindles or tubes 91 through 98, inclusive, that the spools or rolls of adhesive tape are mounted in a stacked manner as clearly shown in FIG- URE 6. For convenience the spools on the spindles 91, 9 2, 93 and 94 are identified by the numeral 99 and the spools or rolls of adhesive tape on the spindles 95, 96, 97 and 98 are identified by the numeral 100. It is in this manner that a trainer or doctor would carry the spool carrier of this invention in his rounds from athlete to athlete in the training room. In this condition the trainer or doctor may have convenient access to a multiplicity of rolls or spools of adhesive tape and he will have no difliculty in removing the spools from the spindles on which they are loosely mounted.

When the carrier is placed in the outer package it is desirable to employ a means for more firmly holding the spindles against relative movement. This is accomplished by spindle spacer members 101 and 102 which respectively hold the plurality of spindles on both sides of the spool carrier. The spindle spacer 101 comprises a cardboard or paperboard member having a base 103 with a plurality of aligned holes 104, 105, 106 and 107 therein which are comparable in diameter to the holes in the shelf members 61 and 62 and just slightly greater than the diameter of the spindles to permit the passage therethrough of the spindles. The spacer 101 has a side fold line 108 adjacent its base 103 and has a long side flange 109 bent upwardly from the base at substantially right angles thereto. The base is further provided with a fold or score line 110 on its other side. Beyond the fold line 110 there is provided spaced apart short side flanges 111 and 112 which leave a notch or cut-out portion 113 between and substantially at the center of the elongated spacer member. This notch or cut-out portion enables continued use of the hand holes 25 and 26 by the user even though the carrier is housed within its outer package 10. The vertically disposed spool carrying spindles are held against relative shifting movement by these generally U-shaped spacer members 101 and 102. FIGURE '7 shows a plan view of the die-cut cardboard or paperboard spacer 102. The spacer member 102 has a base 114 with a line of spaced apart circular holes 115, 116, 117 and 118 through which the spool carrying spindles may freely pass. Flanking the base member 114 on one side is a fold or score line 119 and a long side flange 112 which hinges or folds about the fold line so that it may in use be disposed at substantially right angles to the base member 114. The base in flanked on its opposite side by a fold line 121. Spaced apart short side flanges 122 and 123 extend beyond the fold line 121 and are capable of bending about the fold line so that they too can be disposed at right angles to the base member during use. The spaced apart short side flanges 122 and 123 leave a notch or cut-out portion 124 which functions in the same manner as the notch or cut-out portion 113 to keep the hand engaging elongated notches 25 and 26 uncovered.

It is apparent that the device of this invention may be used either with or without the outer box. When the carrier is positioned within the package 10 it may be entirely sealed for shipment or other handling. The first step in opening the outer container is to break a seal at the position of the adjoining hinged flap members 19 and 20 whereby these elements may be depressed downwardly so that a person handling the package may insert his hand over the center portion of the inner carrier to engage the hand openings 2526. Thus even though the device is fully packaged it has its own integral handle for convenient carrying. When it is desired to use the contents of the box, the top members 17 and 18 are then fully opened to per mit withdrawing the carrier 21 from the outer box 10. At this point also the spindle spacers 101 and 102 are removed from the tops of the spindles leaving the spindles open at their upper ends for convenient removal of the spools which are loosely mounted over each spindle in a tiered manner. In this condition of the spool carrier it may be carried in the manner of a valise to a position of use, such as to the bench or on the playing field where the tape may be easily dispensed as hereinbefore described.

Although the carrier has been defined to this point as a one piece two-sided carrier, it should be understood that the carrier could be cut on the line 22 in lieu of folding. In that case the device may be used as a two piece twosided carrier or the single sided carriers may be separately used. By cutting the cardboard sheet at 22 there is then formed two separate sections 23 and 24 which may be used in the back-to-back relationship as described for the integral two-sided carrier or the two one-sided carriers may be individually and separately used to carry and dispense rolls of tape as hereinbefore described.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier comprising a die cut corrugated cardboard sheet formed symmetrically about a central fold line, a first rectangular section on each side of said central fold line, a second rectangular section on each side of said sheet and joining the outer ends of said first rectangular sections by a fold line, a third rectangular section on each side of said sheet and joining the outer ends of said second rectangular sections by a fold line, a fourth rectangular section on each side of said sheet having the same extent as said second sections and joining the outer ends of said third rectangular sections by a fold line, a fifth rectangular section on each side of said sheet having substantially the same extent as said third sections and joining the outer ends of said fourth rectangular sections by a fold line, said sheet folded about its several fold lines to form a double thickness central portion comprising the first sections and outwardly projecting box-like shelves comprising the second, third, fourth and fifth sections with the second section being the bottom, the third and fifth sections being the vertical spacers, and the fourth section being the top, said shelves disposed on both sides and at substantially right angles to the central section near the bottom thereof, and means for locking said box-like shelves in folded condition, said means for locking said box-like shelves in folded condition comprising tongue members formed in said fifth rectangular sections and hinged on the fold line between the fourth and fifth sections, and said first rectangular sections having openings therein disposed at a distance spaced inwardly from the fold lines between the first and second rectangular sections an amount approximately equal to the height of the third and fifth rectangular sections to receive said tongues when the shelves are folded in the box-like shape.

2. A carrier comprising a die cut corrugated cardboard sheet formed symmetrically about a central fold line, a first rectangular section on each side of said central fold line, a second rectangular section on each side of said sheet and joining the outer ends of said first rectangular sections by a fold line, a third rectangular section on each side of said sheet and joining the outer ends of said second rectangular sections by a fold line, a fourth rectangular section on each side of said sheet having the same extent as said second sections and joining the outer ends of said third rectangular sections by a fold line, a fifth rectangular section on each side of said sheet having substantially the same extent as said third sections and joining the outer ends of said fourth rectangular sections by a fold line, said first rectangular sections having elongated hand engaging openings spaced inwardly from the central fold line an equally short distance, said sheet folded about its several fold lines to form a double thickness central section with a hand gripping opening therethrough, and outwardly projecting box-like shelves on both sides of the central section and at the bottom thereof, an outer rectangularly shaped box for enclosing the carrier, said box having inwardly folding top members meeting along a longitudinal center line, and said top members having hinged adjoining cut-outs adjacent the center thereof and flanking the hand engaging openings in the carrier whereby the carrier may be conveniently carried even though it is enclosed within an outer box.

3. Back-to-back carrier comprising two identical die cut corrugated cardboard sheets, a first rectangular section on each of said cardboard sheets, a second rectangular section on each of said sheets and joining the outer ends of said first rectangular sections by a fold line, a third rectangular section on each of said sheets and joining the outer ends of said second rectangular sections by a fold line, a fourth rectangular section on each of said sheets having the same extent as said second rectangular sections and joining the outer ends of said third rectangular sections by a fold line, a fifth rectangular section on each of said sheets having substantially the same extent as said third rectangular sections and joining the outer ends of said fourth rectangular sections by a fold line, said sheets arranged with their first rectangular sections in back-toback relation and folded about their several fold lines to form outwardly projecting box-like shelves on both sheets at the bottom thereof with the second through the fifth rectangular sections, and means for bracing the box-like shelves, said means for bracing said box-like shelves comprising a foldable side flange on the lateral side edges of each of the first rectangular sections and a tail on each of said side flanges located adjacent to but cut from said second rectangular sections, whereby when the side flanges are folded at right angles to said first rectangular sections said tails are folded up at right angles to said side flanges and project into the ends of said box-like shelves, the adjoining first rectangular sections having aligned elongated hand engaging openings adjacent the edges thereof opposite the edges having the box-like shelves, an outer rectangularly shaped box for enclosing the back-to-back carriers, said box having inwardly folding top members meeting along a longitudinal center line, and said top members having hinged adjoining cutouts adjacent the center thereof and flanking the hand engaging openings in the carriers whereby the carriers may be conveniently carried even though they are enclosed within an outer box.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,232 7/ 1943 Pantalone 21173 2,337,197 12/1943 Holy 220-111 2,671,584 3/1954 Taylor 206- X 2,676,731 4/1954 Klein 206-65 X 2,760,677 8/1956 Arneson 2201l5 2,902,200 9/ 1959 Manners 229l6 3,051,307 8/1962 Hoey et al 20665 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,476,740 3/ 1967 France.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

